Well, I committed the cardinal sin of trying to help someone, a friend who was in desperate need of a car and needed a co-signer. I am in no position to co-sign, but I asked my boss, who is also a very good friend (still is - somehow) to co-sign. She did. It was a four or five-year loan. Anyway, after four years, my now ex-friend stopped paying, refused to turn the car in, and of course, they were going after my boss. Fortunately for me she was out of the country or I'd be dead now. The car was repossessed, and the final bill came to $7,500. I broke my IRA and paid it. Now I'd like some of the money back.

I know small claims has a cap, but here's my question. I can file in small claims for some of it and hopefully get a judgment if I show I paid the money - but this woman isn't going to pay me. So what are the options to collect? Can the court do anything besides further ruining her credit?

Well you should have taken the car and then paid, but anyway, you get a judgement, depending on what state you live in, in some states, you can garnish their paycheck, freeze their bank accounts,
But if they own nothing, don't work, or you live in a state where you can't ganish, you are basically ut of luck.

If this woman couldn't keep up the payments on her car, how is she going to pay you? On the other hand, a judgement lasts 10 years (and can be renewed) so you might have to wait until her situation change to get your money.

Thanks for the response. I guess it's worth a try.

She's working, and we do have garnish laws here. I could perhaps collect something.